Terms
Active: fully initiated member of a fraternity or sorority
Alumni: fraternity and sorority members who have graduated from college
Bid: a membership invitation extended to a prospective member
Bid Day: the last day of recruitment where a potential new member (PNM) accepts the bid to become a new member of a fraternity or sorority
Big Brother/Big Sister: an active member who sponsors, advises, and guides a new member through his or her pledgeship
Brother: an initiated member of a fraternity
Fraternity/Sorority: the name that applies to all Greek letter organizations characterized by a ritual, a pin, and a strong tie of friendship
Fryberger Sing: a musical competition for sororities and fraternities held each year in early March. The Fryberger Sing was created in 1937 to honor Mrs. Agnes Moore Fryberger, a faculty member who taught music at UofL.
GAMMA (Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol): a group of Greek members who address the misuse and abuse of alcohol within the Greek system and develop educational programs for the Greek community
Greek: a term applied to members affiliated with Greek letter organizations
IFC (Interfraternity Council): a representative government body of fraternities affiliated with the National Interfraternity Council
Initiation: the formal ceremony during which a man or woman begins membership in a fraternity or sorority
Intake: orientation and education process in which a new member learns about an NPHC Greek organization
Invitation: a written offer of interest in a potential member
Legacy: a potential member whose parents, grandparents, brother(s), or sister(s) were Greek
National: a term referring to the central organization of a given fraternity or sorority
Neophyte: newly inducted member of a NPHC organization
New Member/Pledge/Associate: one who has been extended a bid from a Greek organization and has accepted it
NPC: National Panhellenic Conference: a conference composed of delegates from 26 national recognized women’s organizations
NPHC: National Pan-Hellenic Council: the national governing body for historically African-American fraternities and sororities
Order of Omega: a national honor society for Greek members who demonstrate outstanding leadership and superior academic performance
Panhellenic Council: a representative governing body of sororities affiliated with the National Panhellenic Conference
Philanthropy: a charitable organization or project sponsored by a Greek organization
Pin/Badge: fraternity/sorority symbol worn once initiated for special functions
Potential New Member (PNM): an undergraduate man/woman who participates in the recruitment process
Quota: the number of new members, determined by a local college Panhellenic Council, which a sorority may pledge during a specified time
Recruitment/Rush: the process in which mutual choice and selection occurs to determine fraternity or sorority membership
Recruitment Counselor (Gamma Chi): a sorority member who has disassociated herself from her chapter during recruitment to guide and counsel potential members during recruitment
Rho Lambda: the National Panhellenic Recognition honor society; membership is extended to both Panhellenic Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities
Ritual: the traditional beliefs of a fraternity or sorority
Sister: an initiated member of a sorority
Snap Bidding: the offering of a bid to a woman from a chapter directly between the time bids are matched and before bids are distributed
Social: a gathering of male and female Greek members to promote fun social activities
Step Show: a function where the members of an organization perform synchronized steps, usually done in costumes or uniforms
